Moving Towards 3G with ZTE's All-IP CDMA2000

Foreword
   As the commercial process of EV-DO Rev. A speeds up, the pace of next generation networks evolution has quickened to all-IP networks. Rev. A is an all IP-based air interface and integrates data and voice capabilities. It is generally agreed that next generation networks will be built around all-IP. Two 3G Partnership Projects (3GPP and 3GPP2) have defined an evolutionary path towards all-IP architecture powered by IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).

   KDDI, a mobile operator in Japan, is changing to all IP network infrastructure for transmitting data and voice via IP in the "Ultra 3G" format. "3G is now a mass market in steady growth. IMS and all-IP is the next step ..." said Mr. Carl-Henric Svanberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.

   ZTE is an active advocate for all-IP architecture. In April 2006, ZTE rolled out the world's first commercial release of all-IP CDMA2000 based on IOS V5.0, using the IP-based Ap interface, offering Transcoder Free Operation (TrFO) and Remote Transcoder Operation (RTO).

Cost Advantages of All-IP
   The all-IP architecture offers costs savings, voice quality improvement, and a clear technical evolution path.

   The most significant feature of all-IP CDMA2000 networks is the implementation of Ap interface. The Ap interface is an A interface based on the IP network, that is, a Base Station Controller (BSC) interfaces with a Media Gateway (MGW) via the IP network.

   The adoption of Ap interface can achieve significant Operating Expenditure (OPEX) and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) savings as shown in the following four aspects:

•    The transmission bandwidth between the BSC and the MGW can be reduced by as much as 80 percent. This can be converted into dollars for savings on transmission bandwidth rental or equipment.
•    With TrFO and RTO functions, less vocoders are needed and up to 30-50% of vocoders can be saved. Moreover, with vocoders moved from BSC to MGW, the system can more easily share vocoder resources while enhancing network security.
•    Another advantage of bandwidth saving is to be found in the need for less interface boards between the BSC and the MGW. Less interface boards mean less rack, less space and less power consumption.
•    Ap interface deployment provides lower cost of migration towards IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). IMS is an important step towards all-IP. With ATM, operators, in their migration towards IMS, need to add the interfaces and equipment to convert ATM to all-IP. The Ap interface enables the smooth evolution towards IMS. 
     Besides cost savings for network construction, operation and maintenance, the Ap interface will provide better QoS for voice. The introduction of TrFO and RTO improves voice quality since the number of coding/decoding steps is reduced and the round trip delays are reduced.

Continuous Innovation
   ZTE has shown early and consistent leadership in developing products for the CDMA market.

   ZTE's first-generation CDMA products have received widespread market recognition. So far, ZTE is the third largest supplier to China Unicom, the second largest mobile operator in China with a share of nearly 22 percent.

   Its continuous R&D and innovation efforts have contributed in shaping the ZTE brand and reputation. As China's top CDMA brand, ZTE has gradually established itself as one of the top global vendors of CDMA.
In March 2000, ZTE launched a complete CDMA mobile communications system, becoming the first Chinese vendor to offer end-to-end CDMA solutions, from base stations and switches to value-added services subsystems. ZTE was one of the manufacturers that successfully won a CDMA contract from China Unicom in 2001. To build high quality CDMA networks for China Unicom, ZTE consecutively rolled out multiple repeaters, micro BTSs and RF BTSs to provide wide, deep, or far-reaching coverage.

   In 2001, ZTE launched a CDMA2000 1X mobile communications system and put through China's first CDMA2000 1X voice call.

   In 2002, ZTE's CDMA architecture was changed from the self-developed HIRS system to the prevailing ATM architecture and finally to the all-IP architecture.

   In 2004, ZTE delivered a whole package of all-IP CDMA products covering both the wireless and core network sides.

   ZTE can provide the most complete portfolio of CDMA2000 base stations in the industry. Its BTS series include Super BTS, large-capacity BTS, compact BTS, outdoor BTS, micro BTS, integrated outdoor BTS and RF remote stations. The company took the lead in bringing about the "Super BTS" where the remote Radio Frequency and the baseband subsystems are separately installed. It has the highest capacity in the industry, providing powerful baseband processing capability for up to 120 sectors.

   ZTE's all-IP based BSC has received widespread industry recognition for performance excellence. A single BSC can support up to 2.5 million subscribers (0.02 Erlang per user), a maximum data throughput of 6 Gbps, and a maximum capacity of 15,360 carrier-sectors. 
 
Fruitful Market Achievements
   ZTE's CDMA2000 system, based on an all-IP technology, has made great market achievements.

   In 2006, ZTE shipped over 12,000 units of CDMA BTS equipment, topping the world CDMA equipment market by number of shipments. To date, ZTE has deployed over 75 million lines of CDMA equipment for over 120 carriers' networks in more than 70 countries and regions including India, Indonesia, the Czech Republic and a variety of African countries, as well as in developed markets like the U.S.A. and Europe.

   In Mongolia, ZTE helped Skytel, Mongolia's largest CDMA mobile operator, build the world's first EV-DO Rev. A commercial network. Additionally, ZTE is building a CDMA network in Mongolia's rangelands.
In India, ZTE has entered the markets of the country's three largest CDMA operators–Reliance, TaTa and BSNL–on a large scale in 2006. ZTE equipment currently accounts for 85 percent of BSNL's CDMA market. ZTE has also undertaken TaTa's national rural telecoms project and has helped Reliance build CDMA softswitch gateways in many states of India.  
In Indonesia, ZTE has been awarded a 2-million line 3G CDM2000 network contract by PT Telkom. ZTE is the largest CDMA equipment supplier to Indosat.

   In the Caribbean region, ZTE completed the first 3G CDMA2000 network in Haiti. The CDMA2000 1X and EV-DO network with a capacity of 500,000 lines has been put to commercial use.

   In the U.S., ZTE's equipment is currently being tested in several tier one carriers' laboratories.

   In Europe, ZTE constructed the continent's first EV-DO Rev A. national network in Czech Republic, and the EV-DO network constructed by ZTE has been put to commercial use in Norway.

   Supported by advanced products and focused R&D, ZTE will continue to demonstrate leadership in global CDMA markets, paving the way for the company's international expansion.